Hong Kong Disneyland Set for Multi-Year Transformation with All-New Attractions and Entertainment
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Some of The Walt Disney Company’s most powerful franchises will come to life in a way guests can only experience at Hong Kong Disneyland

Characters and stories from “Frozen” to await guests in an exciting, completely new themed area, while fans will be in the middle of the action with their favorite Marvel Super Heroes

HONG KONG (Nov. 22, 2016) – Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) announced a multi-year development plan to take the park to a new level of excitement, leveraging some of the most beloved and successful franchises of The Walt Disney Company. Plans include new themed areas, attractions and entertainment, launching almost every year from 2018 through 2023.

Guests will experience Marvel and “Frozen” like never before as HKDL leverages the best of Disney to bring both these world-renowned franchises to life in their own immersive areas. The centerpiece of the park and the gateway to Fantasyland – the castle – will also be transformed to create spectacular entertainment experiences for guests.

“We are more excited than ever about the future of Hong Kong Disneyland,” said Bob Chapek, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We are bringing the best of The Walt Disney Company to this wonderful tourist destination, giving guests from around the world an experience only Disney can deliver and an experience they can only have with us at Hong Kong Disneyland.”

Some highlights of the new experiences that will delight Disney fans and guests from around the world include*:

* Please refer to Annex for the program of development by year.

An epicenter of Marvel Super Heroes that will continue to unfold. From the launch of Iron Man Experience, the Marvel universe continues to grow at HKDL. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters will be reimagined into a brand new experience for guests to fight alongside the icons of the Marvel Universe. Further, another thrilling attraction dedicated to one of the most popular Marvel franchises will be added to expand the epicenter of Marvel Super Heroes as exciting events unfold in phases.
An exciting new “Frozen” themed area where characters and stories from the kingdom of Arendelle will come to life in ways guests have never experienced before at a Disney park. Guests will enjoy two new attractions and be immersed in Arendelle with uniquely themed dining, shopping, and entertainment.
A completely transformed Castle and Hub area to showcase brand new daytime and nighttime shows and entertainment offerings that will celebrate every prince and princess who ever wished upon a star and dared to follow a dream. An “Adventureland Show Place,” which invites guests to “Moana’s Village Festival” through a series of daytime entertainment offerings anchored around a lively stage show in a new interactive entertainment environment. In addition to experiencing live shows and immersive Disney storytelling, guests can meet Moana, heroine of the new Disney animated film that will be released globally starting November 2016.

The major development plans extend the excitement and amazing growth at HKDL, as the resort is set to open the eagerly anticipated Iron Man Experience officially on January 11, 2017 and the richly themed Disney Explorers Lodge resort hotel later in the first half of the year.

HKDL has continued to grow since its opening in 2005 and has broadened its appeal to families and young adults as well as diverse markets, including local, mainland China and overseas guests.

The three themed areas launched between 2011 and 2013, Toy Story Land, Grizzly Gulch and Mystic Point, have enhanced the park’s attractions and entertainment offerings and boosted the park’s attractiveness to different market segments. In 2013, Mystic Manor was awarded the prestigious Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement – Attraction, the equivalent of the Oscar in the theme park industry. In the following year, the nighttime parade “Disney Paint the Night” was launched and subsequently honored with a Thea Award.

In celebration of HKDL’s 10th Anniversary in 2015, the new stage show “Mickey and the Wondrous Book” and a new walk-through experience “Fairy Tale Forest” were introduced. This past summer, “Star Wars: Tomorrowland Takeover” presented attractions and offerings themed after another classic Disney franchise.

“The all-new developments will further reinforce HKDL’s position as a world-class tourist destination for everyone, including families and young adults, and help build lifelong memories across generations of families,” said Samuel Lau, executive vice president and managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland.

HKDL’s two shareholders – The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong Government – have agreed on the development plans, subject to funding approval by the Company’s Board of Directors and Legislative Council for their respective share of investment.

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About Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort offers unforgettable, culturally distinctive Disney experiences for guests of all ages and nationalities. In the magical kingdom theme park — filled with your favorite Disney stories and characters — explore seven diverse lands that are home to award-winning, first-of-a-kind attractions and entertainment. Complete your adventure with stays at the resort’s luxurious Disney hotels. The magic doesn’t end at our doorstep; as a dedicated member of the local community that cares deeply about societal well-being, Hong Kong Disneyland spreads its magic through community services programs that help families in need, boost creativity among children and youth, encourage the protection of the environment and inspire healthier living.

For information on attractions and vacations at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, visit hongkongdisneyland.com, download the new mobile app or call (852) 3550-3388.

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SINGAPORE: Hong Kong Disneyland Resort will be suspending its signature nightly fireworks display from Jan 2 next year as it carries out a HK$10.9 billion (US$1.4 billion) multi-year expansion project.

It is not clear if the 12-minutes fireworks show will be reinstated when Hong Kong Disneyland’s makeover is completed.

“The nightly fireworks extravaganza will stage its finale on Jan 1, 2018,” Hong Kong Disneyland said in a press release.

“Sleeping Beauty Castle will then start its magical transformation in early January as part of the park’s multi-year expansion plan. The castle will return after a glamorous makeover with a completely new daytime show and nighttime spectacular featuring brand-new entertainment experiences that reach new heights,” it added.

Hong Kong Disneyland officially kicked off the multi-year transformation of the park in October, which will be completed in phases between next year and 2023.

Under the expansion plan, new themed areas, attractions and entertainment will launch almost every year during the six-year project. The first to open next year will be a Moana-themed entertainment venue in Adventureland.
Source: CNA/aj

2020/2021 - Frozen Land - (5/11/18) According to one Screamscape source, this “new” Frozen artwork showing off a coaster is more than likely actually an OLD or Alternate piece of concept artwork Disney may have had made for the new land. This means that the outdoor coaster concept was likely removed from this older piece of concept artwork before Disney released the artwork we’ve seen for the past year. Looking at the two pieces of artwork in this new order, then you can see how various things were removed from it in the process of “value engineering” the land, such as removing the fountain, or the second large mountain structure, changes that would go towards lowering the overall cost of the land, along with the removal of the coaster.
In the end, the land is still in development which means everything is still in flux until the construction begins, so we will likely have to wait for some time until we know the official final list of attractions.
(5/5/18) This was news to me as well, but new concept artwork for the Frozen themed land coming to Hong Kong Disneyland has been altered and released and now shows a sleigh themed coaster on the hillside on the right side of the image. Other changes notices include the addition of a frozen-fountain in the plaza on the left and an additional mountain peak added to the horizon, to the left of Elsa's ice castle. I don't know if this was intentional, but the new peak almost has a "Matterhorn" style look to the peak to me.
(5/4/17) Disney has confirmed on the official blog that the big expansion plans for Hong Kong Disneyland have been approved from the local government and that "starting next year through 2023" they will be adding new world-class attractions, entertainment and new themed areas. Already confirmed to be part of the expansion is an entire Frozen themed land.